An important piece of the CN Line or B-Trail in Pembroke and Laurentian Valley has been sold off. Teressa Hebb, the President of the Renfrew County ATV Club, tells myFM that riders are already cancelling trips to the area because they can no longer access hotels such as the Best Western and Holiday Inn in Pembroke from the trail system.
The impacted section of trail connected the Algonquin Trail to the B-Trail so riders could go from the waterfront in the west end of Pembroke to the Baron Canyon, Golden Lake or towards Barry’s Bay.
Hebb says they will be working with the Township of Laurentian Valley and City of Pembroke to see about potentially accessing some local roads to make it easy for riders to come off the trail and would reconnect the remaining leased CN “B Trail” in Laurentian Valley to the County of Renfrew Algonquin Trail in the City of Pembroke.
Hebb says some local residents who purchased homes with the ability to access the trail system directly from their property will now have to buy a trailer and go to the nearest access point or trailhead instead of having access from their backyards.
The ATV club was made aware of the sale on March 30th, 2022. Signs and club assets will be removed by volunteers with the ATV and Snowmobile clubs by the end of April.
The President of the Renfrew County ATV Club says the new property owner allowed access during the fall, but says they’ve been clear so far they have no intention to allow use on the trail going forward.
Trail users asked to stay off the now sold CN “B Trail” unless permitted by a Municipal or City By-Law.
The now closed section of the B-Trail runs from the Algonquin Trail in the west end of Pembroke, across Jean Avenue, to Bruham Avenue, the section from Bruham Avenue to the Boundary Road bridge, the section from the Boundary Road bridge to the Hawthorn Avenue bridge and includes the spur from the CN Trail to Bennett Street. The ATV Club had an agreement in place with the City of Pembroke for riders to be able to go down International Drive and access the hotels near Highway 17.
Riders can find out more information about this and other club and trail priorities, along with presentations from the County of Renfrew and Ontario Federation of ATV Clubs at the annual general meeting on Saturday April 9, 2022 at the Petawawa Civic Centre from 9:00am to noon.
(written by: Rudy Kadlec)